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`and eXact description of the said invention,

making part of this specification, wherein- Y parts.

'UNTTED STATES PATENT @einen JOHNPRENTIGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

`CIGAIl-IVIAKEWS MOLD.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 85,764 dated January 1,2, 1869.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, J cnn PRENTICE, of the city and State of New York, have invented and made a certain :new and useful Improvement in Molds for Cigar-Makers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

reference bein g had to the annexed drawing,

Figure l is a plan of the mold open. Fin'. 2 is a side view of the mold partially closed, and Fig. 3 is 'a transverse section of the mold when closed.

Similar marks of reference denote the same Cigars after they are made present a rough appearance, in consequence of the wrapper being` pressed into the slight inequalities of theiilling. rlhis is particularly the case where the cigar is ina-de with elastic rollers in a inachine.

The object of this invention is to give to the cigar, when made, a more regular and uniform appearance, and remove the slight projections and inequalities previous to the ciga becom ing dry or setin its form.

I make use of a mold, into which the cigar is placed immediately after it has been made up and subjected to a slight but uniform pressure, sufh'cient to lessen or remove any projecting inequalities, and by retaining the cigar in the mold for a short time the shape given becomes permanent.

It' the'mold were made of a rigid character, the slight inequalities in the size and shape would not be allowed for. I therefore form the same with a lining of sheet-steel or similar elastic material that can becompressed or contracted around the cigar.

In the drawing, ct represents the bottom portion of the mold, formed of brass or other material, with a cavity rather larger than half the cigar. The moving portion b of mold is similarly made. These two parts are united by a hinge formed by the pins 2, that are received in the jaws 3 on the mold a, and the projections et turn down under the shoulders 5, so that as the mold is closed the same is drawn firmly together at that end ot' the mold.

The pressure to close the mold is to be applied principally at the swinging end of the mold a, and at this end a spring-catch, c, from the mold I), with a series of ratchet-teeth, is

employed to catch into a tooth upon the mold i b (at 6) and hold the parts together.

Within the molds a and b, I employ the thin lining, of sheet metal or other springing substance, and these linings c 03 are rather more than ahalf-circle in their sectional shape, so that the edges lap past each other, as seen. in Fig. 3 hence, there is not upon-the cigar a projecting ridge, as there otherwise would be at the point where the two molds come together. The action of these linings c t' as they are pressed together is to press in any projections or inequalities in the cigar, and at the same time maintain a nearly circular form in the cigar, the edges of the lining-plates ci being pressed inward by the concavities ot' the molds c b.

At the end of the mold I introduce the tippresser h, formed of a conical sheet -metal case, having longitudinal incisions, so that the base of the cone can be contracted as the mold is pressed together, and thereby smooth. the tip of' the cigar and properly shape the same.

The linings ci are to be held in place by the lugs k, that project through the molds a and b, and the tip-presser It is sustained by an end piece at 7, passing through the block l, the inclined pin 8 acting against 7 to press the piece h upon the tip of the cigar.

It will now be understood that the cigar as made is laid into the mold, and then the mold is closed, and it presses upon the entire surface of the cigar with a unifbrm force, o1' nearly so, in order that a correct shape and smooth surface may be given to said cigar.

By having a number of these molds they can be used successively, thus allowing each cigar to remain in the mold the necessary period of time.

The same mold can be used for shaping the bunches of tobacco previous to putting on the wrapper.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Iatcnt, is

1. A mold for cigar, formed substantially as specified, to compress the cigar, for the purposes set forth.

2. The lining of sheet metal or other material applied to the mold, for the purposes set forth.

3. The mold a b, in combination with the hinge 2, projections 4, shoulder 5, and catches c, substantially as set forth.

J OHN PRENTICE.

Vitnesses I GEO. D. WALKER, GEO. T. PINOKNEY. 

